The first patient in line has already set up shop at COMOM's Brush High School location, as Sterling resident Deb Unrein, a regular visitor to the COMOM clinic's each year since it was first held in Brush in 2011, can boast as the head of the class. She says that this year will mark her last dental procedure and the beautiful, bright smile she has been given has given her enough confidence to finally show those pearly whites with no hesitation, and one look at her smile shows just that. She hopes to give back by volunteering during next year's event. (Katie Collins/News-Tribune)

Things are moving quickly as of Thursday afternoon as Colorado Mission of Mercy organizers and volunteers convene on the grounds of Brush High School, the site of this year’s 10th annual FREE dental clinic. Nearly 700 area volunteers and nearly 200 Colorado dentists have already committed to the massive and mobile dental clinic, which now has planners in high gear as the two-day dentistry offering for all in need, of all ages, approaches. From area organizations, businesses and big-hearted individuals, many Morgan County locals have also made great efforts to donate and help the cause, bringing an entire community together to help with the plight that many face in an urgent need for dental care.

Volunteers such as Suzanna Spears, shown here, will make sure that patients and volunteers alike know where to take their questions by donning special outfits. Look for these point people for more information during the Brush COMOM Free Dental Clinic tomorrow and Saturday. (Katie Collins/News-Tribune)

On Thursday afternoon, as the big rigs packed full of supplies, dental tools and gear and more have arrived, many local groups and individuals have also been seen bringing in donations of all sorts, including food and drink for volunteers.

First patient settles in line by Thursday Thursday afternoon also brought on the very first patient to set up shop at the head of the line as Sterling resident Deb Unrein began posting her tent near the south-end patient entrance, located just west of the usual student entrance to BHS near the office. Unrein noted that she has taken part in each and every COMOM free dental clinic held since her first visit to the effort during their 2011 Brush stop, getting nearly all her teeth redone.

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This, she said, will be her last and final visit, ending her long-running tooth pain troubles for good. “These folks have been so very good to me, each and every year,” she said as she put down her folding chair and umbrella in anticipation of setting up her place at the head of the line. “Everyone is always so nice and I can finally open up and smile for once, without being shy,” she said, showing the beautiful, bright, pearly-white smile bestowed upon her by COMOM dentists.

The big rigs have arrived! Volunteers, planners and organizers are swiftly unloading massive amounts of gear, tools and more, gearing up for the June 17 and June 18 COMOM Free dental clinic. (Katie Collins/News-Tribune)

Next year, Unrein hopes to give back to the effort by signing up as a volunteer with the next COMOM clinic. This year’s free dental clinic will hit the halls of Brush High School on Friday, June 17 and Saturday, June 18, with the patient entrance door set to open at 6 a.m. sharp and those very halls are currently being transformed into the multi-treatment room offering as dentists gear up to deliver free dental services to people in need of all ages, from all area, and anyone in need is invited and indeed urged to attend.

ProceduresProcedures available vary from patient to patient, and will be outlined during an initial health and dental triage, with everything from imaging to anesthesia and prescriptions available on-site. Some procedures executed in the past have included extractions, crowns, cancer and oral health screenings, hygiene procedures such as sealants, root planning and deep scaling, pediatrics services for children under 12 and restorative procedures. For some who qualify, prosthodontics such as dentures and anterior acrylic removable partial dentures, or ‘flippers’ may be available as well, although dentures will be prepared on-site and on a limited basis for those whose mouth structure is amenable to the “fast denture” protocol.

Patient arrival, entrance and parkingTo participate in the free clinic as a patient, only your presence is needed. Simply arrive as early as possible on Friday, June 17 or Saturday, June 18, with dentistry check-ups and procedures provided on a first-come, first-serve and priority needs basis. Although some special needs can be met outside in the line by organizers who will have attendants available to address special needs, accommodations for those with disabilities, handicaps and special needs won't be offered in full until patients are inside, prompting a urge to bring a friend to help out in line. Parents with young children are also urged to bring help to keep track of kiddos once they are placed as patients. Once inside, accommodations will be available to help those with special needs or disabilities. Some provisions such as snacks and water in limited supply will also be made available by line attendants, but a wait for all should be planned for and folding chairs, water and snacks are mentioned as handy items to bring. Weather-related items in the event of a cold morning or wayward storm, should also be planned for, though volunteers will have some items such as blankets handy. Patients are urged to park near the Brush High School's south parking lot, as the usual front multi-door entrance used by students near the office, will be closed. Patient entrance will be on the same south side of the school, located on the far west portion that opens up into the band room. Volunteers are urged to carpool and can park at nearby Beaver Valley School and hitch a ride to BHS, as well as enter through the north BHS entrance near the Ag shop. Parking attendants and signage will be made available to help direct traffic at the event.

Still time to volunteer – sign up onsiteVolunteer registration has closed online, but will be available for anyone still wanting to sign up on-site, beginning on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. Set-up and take-down dates of Thursday, June 16 and Sunday, June 19 will also welcome volunteers and any help that can be mustered. Volunteers of all sorts and ages are still being sought to create the massive service Laborers are also needed the day prior and after the event to set up, take down and haul equipment, making for a massive volunteer force for the humanitarian effort.For additional information on the clinic, simply log on to their website at www.comom.org or follow this year’s progress on Facebook and Twitter #2016BrushCOMOM for all the latest news and updates. Questions will also be answered via the 2016 COMOM hotline numbers:(970) 467-2832 for volunteer information and (970)467-2836 for patient information.

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